Most common causes of household arguments – one will surprise you

Messy bedrooms, oversleeping, not sorting homework and excessive screen time are among the most common “argument triggers” among UK families, a new study has revealed.

Raising teens in Britain in the 2020s is not getting easier – despite more and more devices and tools aimed at making homelife run smoother – amid the pressure of modern life, research suggests.

Now a survey, by printer brand Epson, has unmasked the top 13 triggers that cause blazing rows between Gen Z teens and their Generation X parents.

And among the most common are kids having messy bedrooms, not doing their homework, the way they treat their siblings, the food they won’t eat and spending too much time on their phones or games consoles.

Kids who are slow getting out of bed for school, college or work also causes parents unnecessary stress – and sparks will also fly over the fact they don’t get enough fresh air.

Parenting expert Dr Amanda Gummer, who worked with Epson and has over 20 years’ experience working with families, said: “Most parents have faced the ongoing battle with their kids about keeping their rooms clean and tidy. 

“I’d advise parents to be consistent when pushing their children to keep their rooms tidy and make clear why it’s important to do so. 

“Let them know that it’s to teach them that their bedroom is their sanctuary and safe space which they should respect and keep clean. 

“Parents should also lead by example and ensure their rooms are tidy to set the standard they are pushing on their children.” 

Meanwhile the top tech-related reasons for family dramas are: 1 – Glitchy Wi-Fi (47 per cent); 2 – Devices not being charged (39 per cent); 3 – Passwords being forgotten (34 per cent); 4 – Running out of printer ink (29 per cent) and 5 – Laptop interrupting work with regular updates (22 per cent).

Dr Gummer added: “It’s very common for families to have disputes around homework and it’s no wonder that tech issues can lead to family squabbles.

“Everyone is familiar with the pain of Wi-Fi suddenly not working and the sinking feeling of realising they haven’t ordered ink for the printer.

“I’d advise parents to take a breath before they let tech issues cause arguments – sit down and talk to them and work out the problem together.”

While untidy bedrooms (45 per cent) and disagreements over screentime (43 per cent) topped the poll, homework is more of a minefield for parents due to the implications of it not being handed in.   

According to a UCL Institution of Education study, British secondary schoolchildren are set an average of 12.5 hours of homework every week – the equivalent of over six working days a month meaning parents face a constant battle to persuade their child to study. 

And children are increasingly being asked to use tech to supplement or complete their homework – from gathering research to printing off assignments to be marked. 

According to the study, one in four schools (25 per cent) now regularly set homework that needs to be printed, and one in five families (22 per cent) have to frequently print learning materials at home as schools don’t provide them.  

The study found four in five families regularly experience computer, tablet or printer problems at home (83 per cent), leading to squabbles and spats. 

Over half of families (56 per cent) said they were familiar with the sensation of ‘printer panic’ – the feeling of horror when key documents like homework or learning materials need to be printed but the ink is running low. 

Epson is seeking to alleviate some of the family dramas associated with homework with its ReadyPrint Flex ink subscription service. 

Owen Vloothuis, product manager for ReadyPrint at Epson Europe, said: “We understand the pressures that homework can place on students and their families. 

“It’s understandable that it can lead to tension at home, particularly when technology issues come into play. 

“Everyone’s familiar with the pain of forgetting a password or the Wi-Fi playing up, which can feel even worse when you’ve got to use your laptop for an assignment or print out learning materials. 

“Unfortunately, we can’t help with forgotten passwords, but when it comes to ink running out at a crucial moment, we absolutely can.”